My Event Ratings

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		40%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Scenic but challenging multi-terrain course, well organised.
In full: A lovely course which was more challenging than I was expecting, the various surfaces underfoot and the narrow tracks made it difficult to get into any kind of rhythm. Purple Patch had organised this very well (parking, bus, baggage drop all went v. smooth) and they and the marshalls deserve a big thank you. The heat during the second half made the last few miles difficult and scuppered any chance of a PB.
Date of review: July 27, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Challenging course, great organisation, great value for money.
In full: A challenging course, not just the obvious hill between mile 1 & 2 which saps the energy reserves early on, the uphill finish also reduces any chance of a final kick to recoup any lost time! The organisation was brilliant, marshalls were excellent and the crowd support all along the course was uplifting. A nice medal, technical t-shirt and bursting goody bag combined with chip-timing makes this event excellent VFM. Doubt I'd ever get a PB on this course but would defo do it again. Well done Handycross Runners.
Date of review: July 19, 2010

Report this rating to the moderator

Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Well organised by people who understand runners in a city that appreciates the event.
In full: Superb organisation once again; organisers make this a really easy race for beginners or people with bad admin! Good pre-race pack-up, loads of nearby parking, plenty of toilets at start and along route. Water/feed stations well manned by cheerful helpers, well stocked too with plenty of drink and gels to keep you going. Rather crowded at the start; first half of route has good scenery with good support, second half a bit more of a trial and those few miles round Holme Pierpont are just painful! The amount of stands at the start/finish area was impressive and the effort taken to make this an event for the city should be applauded. Great race, highly recommended.
Date of review: September 15, 2009

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Well organised and well marshalled race.
In full: A great mix of town and country running, which is reasonably flat except for the noticeable climb for the last mile! Very well organised, the only thing that let it down was the complete lack of signage to find the start (not being from the Leicester area I struggled to find my way to the start around the 1-way system without any signs to help), and there was a distinct lack of parking, I fortunately arrived early enough to be one of the lucky ones. The course was well marshalled and well supported, drinks were regular and gels when you needed them. I will definitely do this run again and would recommend it to anyone whatever their experience.
Date of review: November 11, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Excellent race, well organised, well marshalled, good support and good value for money.
In full: Best city marathon far. Always extremely well organised (although baggage was a disaster this year - had to run back to the car with my bag and run with my car keys as queues for the baggage tent were horrendous 10 minutes before the start, still a good warm up before the race won't hurt). Superbly marshalled - where do they get all those enthusiastic volunteers? well done everyone and thank you very much. First half of route is very pleasant, good scenery but a few hills which can sap your legs for later on; the second half is pretty good as well compared to other city marathons - the stretch around holme pierpont is a challenge but at least you know you're nearly there once it's done. Although an expensive race it works out really good value for money with all the trimmings they lay on, excellent feed stations with lucosade drinks and gels, good bag at the end full of good stuff to eat and drink after you've finished and a nice medal. The organisers clearly understand runners and the city clearly appreciates the event - will definitely be back again for this one, thoroughly recommended!
Date of review: September 19, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		40%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Well marshalled, dodgy organisation at the start, nice support despite the weather.
In full: An average race spoilt a bit by the poor organisation at the start. I have no idea when the race actually started (no pistol, horn or hooter to be heard), it wasn't even clear where the official startline was. With no starting pens and a narrown path for the first mile or so it was all a bit chaotic as faster runners tried to edge past the joggers. A big thank you must go to the support staff along the route however who did a marvelous job in poor weather. That said, there were several dodgy parts during the second marathon lap with traffic coming from all directions, and having to 'stop look and listen' at road junctions was a little frustrating. You did get the feeling that the marathon runners were not the priority for the race organisers. Shame that there was no specific medal for the marathon either, I've done loads before but it must be disappointing for those completing the full marathon for the first time to be given a medal commemorating completion of an 'event'! With chip timing, and more thought and organisation going into the start I may be tempted to do it again, but this wasn't my best marathon experience (p.s this may all just be sour grapes as my time was pants).
Date of review: September 8, 2008

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		100%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Excellent race for those looking for a quick time; good organisation and well marshalled although a lot of running with traffic.
In full: A pleasant course which provides no major challenges (other than the distance of course!)with definite potential for a PB. Organisation was pretty smooth and the course was well marshalled - which it needed to be given the amount of running with traffic. Looping through the town centre provided a good opportunity for the locals to provide some welcome support and although the support was generally thin it was fairly constant throughout and effectively kept the morale up. It's fairly sparse in terms of the trimmings, just water and the occasional jelly baby at water stops and nothing of note at the finish, but it's a quick course and the stadium start/finish tops & tails the race well. Recommended for the seasoned runner after a good time and the beginner looking for something well organised, which doesn't require too much admin effort, and a failry simple and pleasant course to run.
Date of review: October 30, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Highly entertaining and thoroughly exhausting day out.
In full: Glorious course to run, and the rain soddened paths churned up by the hundreds of runners ahead of me made for an extremely entertaining time struggling both up and down the slippery hills. The mud, rain and hills conspired to ensure that this would be my slowest marathon yet, by a considerable time, but this did not detracte from a throroughly enjoyable day. Good organisation, superbly marshalled (and all the helpers deserve a very big thank you considering the atrocious weather). This a challenging and fun marathon which makes a nice change from tarmac and traffic.
Date of review: October 2, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Well organised and superbly marshalled, tough first half with pleasant surroundings and decent crowds.
In full: Found the first half a real trial, mainly due to the overcrowding and slow pace; crowds didn't realy start to thin enough to run my own race until after around 5 miles when the constant up and down made it difficult to catch up on time or even settle into a rhythm. First half scenery was pleasant enough with decent crowds to keep your spirits up. Rather grim immediately after the split and the long drag around Holme Pierpont is a bit tortuous. It was well organised with plenty of on route support and the marshalls were excellent, especially the motorcyclists with their impromtu water supplies! Good fun and heartily recommended although PB unlikely (and goodie bag a bit of a disappoinment for a big race).
Date of review: September 16, 2006

Report this rating to the moderator

Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		100%
Value		60%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Challenging, well organised race with a scenic route.
In full: Uphill start was a bit depressing and some of the best (worst?) hills I've ever run in a race, but there are noticeable downhill sections to recoup some time and the last few miles were flat enough for a quick finish. Weather couldn't spoil what was a well organised and excellently marshalled race.
Date of review: November 7, 2005

Report this rating to the moderator